CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Chad Griffin
President, Human Rights Campaign
As President of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, Chad Griffin has helped open new fronts in the fight for full equality.
From expanding HRC's work in the Deep South and around the globe, to spearheading a renewed focus on combating HIV and AIDS, to confronting the epidemic of anti-transgender violence and launching the largest voter mobilization effort in the history of the LGBTQ movement, Griffin has led HRC to new heights. With a grassroots army of 2 million members and supporters, HRC's efforts in the 2016 election were credited with ousting North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory for his support of the discriminatory HB2, sending a resounding message to lawmakers nationwide: If you come for the LGBTQ community, HRC will come for you on Election Day.
Before joining HRC in 2012, Griffin helped found the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and recruited the bipartisan legal dream team of Ted Olson and David Boies to challenge Proposition 8 in federal court, which ultimately led to the U.S. Supreme Court restoring marriage equality to California. Griffin's leadership directing AFER's multi-year legal and public education campaign was the subject of the recent award-winning HBO documentary, "The Case Against 8."
He spent the early part of his career working at the intersection of Hollywood and politics, forming the successful political and public affairs firm, Griffin|Schake. Together with business partner Kristina Schake, Griffin led high-profile campaigns around renewable energy, land conservation, stem-cell research, early childhood education, anti-tobacco and of course, marriage equality. He represented and advised high net-worth individuals, families and foundations, as well as some of the nation's most prominent leaders in the entertainment community, in their political and philanthropic endeavors.
A native of Hope, Arkansas, Griffin got his start in the press office of President Bill Clinton's White House at the age of 19, becoming the youngest West Wing staffer ever. He is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Griffin currently serves on the board of the National Conference for Civil and Human Rights and resides in Washington, DC.
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